All in one week!

Hello everyone,

This post leaves me with two weeks left of the term. I am excited to report that this also means I only have two weeks left until IAAPA. I am SO excited and that's nearly an understatement.

This week we hit an amazing milestone in our campaign to host the 2013 Frozen Putt-A-Thon. I present to you www.frozenputt.com, the official website of the Frozen Putt-A-Thon. This will be the central link to all of our advertising and promotions. This will truly legitimize the event and allow us to pull in a much larger audience.

This week I am excited to report that I have an interview with the Erie County Convention Center Authority (ECCCA). I am interested in gaining some additional event facility management experience, so I am trying to get an internship that may turn into a job.

Finally, this week is also a networking event for the Northwest PA Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. I'm not sure if I told you, however as the president of the Mercyhurst PRSSA chapter, I have been asked to sit on the local PRSA board and represent my chapter and bring a young perspective. On Thursday, PRSA is hosting a networking event for professionals at the U Pick Six Taphouse downtown in Erie. I'm very excited to do some networking in my local community.

Have a great week! Have a great Halloween!

Thanks for reading,
Joe 

Beyond the classroom

Hello everyone,

I hope you've had a good week. As always, time flies when you're having fun and it's unbelievable that we are already the majority of the way through October. Senior year has mixed emotions. I am in a place that I love dearly, living in this safe community, all the while longing for the next step and the real world. I can not deny that I enjoy being a student and having the opportunity to learn, but at some point you just want to put your knowledge to work and prove you can be successful.

Over my years at Mercyhurst, there may be nothing I am more obsessed and dedicated to than my extracurricular activities. My involvement as a student ambassador, resident assistant, presidency of both National Broadcasting Society and Public Relations Student Society of America, among being a lector and Eucharistic minister, have really solidified this place as my home. However, beyond being a place of comfort, these things have allowed me to grow as a person and a professional.

Thus far this year, my baby or pet project is the Mercyhurst Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). We are a relatively young organization, just beginning our fourth year, but a larger issue is that we don't have any traditions. Being so young, we haven't stuck to any projects and every year is like re-inventing the wheel, which is what I'm working on this year. We decided for forgo the national conference in San Francisco, a difficult thing to do, but it has made a much larger focus on creating a community here and building that much need foundation.

This year, PRSSA is heavily focusing on the Frozen Putt-A-Thon, a winter fest like event that transforms a summer attraction into a winter haven. We have partnered with Harbor View Miniature Golf where we will dig out the course from snow and completely makeover the place. This is not only a fundraiser for the organization, but a wonderful opportunity to take on that practical learning experience. I know that I have told you all of this before, however now we are deeply inside the planning process and I will have many things to present to you in the upcoming weeks about this unique event and everything we are doing to prepare of it. In the meantime, save January 26, 2013 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. to come to the event. You can plan a 10 a.m. campus tour by calling 814-824-2000 and then come on down to the event.

Have a great week!
Joe

November's Coming

Hello everyone,

If you've been following me for a while, you probably remember me mentioning IAAPA. IAAPA stands for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. So you ask yourself, why would Joe be excited for this IAAPA thing? Well, because in November I get to travel to Orlando for the 2012 IAAPA Attractions Expo. This is the business expo for everyone who is involved in the amusement park industry and I am proud to once again represent IAAPA as a show ambassador as I continue to learn and network in this industry. 

Working in the amusement park industry is a dream to me and IAAPA represents that dream coming true. There is a large sense of accomplishment that accompanies being accepted into this program, particularly even for the second time. Out of hundreds of applicants, my risks have paid off and have gotten me noticed. Spending my last two summers in Williamsburg and Chicago respectively, were two of the most difficult decisions that I have ever had to make, but by not taking the easy way I feel like I have been rewarded. 

The IAAPA Attractions Expo provides me the opportunity to learn amongst industry professionals, attend education sessions on various industry topics and most of all the opportunity to gain event execution experience. This year the IAAPA ambassador team has asked me to take part in regulating and providing content to the IAAPA social media sites, including both Facebook and Twitter pages. This is just an additional opportunity for me to take more out of this experience. 

Everything in life here at Mercyhurst continues to point toward my career, and my education here, combined with the guidance provided by my professors, gives me a real advantage. I am proud of my education and where I have come from. Now November 9 just can't come soon enough. 

Thanks for reading, 

Joe

We Make Our Success

Hello everyone,

Today is officially the last day of Fall Break here at Mercyhurst University. We have enjoyed an incredible long weekend, getting off Thursday, Friday and Monday in honor of our very last mid-term fall break as we move to semesters next year. This break would have been much nicer and more productive if I hadn't gotten Walking Pneumonia. It doesn't exactly make for the most fun of times, but better than amidst a busy week I guess.

Stacy and I talk with Matthew Cummings, Director of Communication for the School District of the City of Erie.

Prior to both break and sickness, my long awaited "Speed Networking" event took place on Wednesday afternoon. You may remember, after weeks of planning we had to change the date and rescheduled it to Wednesday. The reality of life it seems is that we (students) learn best by making mistakes. It seems that everything that could go wrong did, but not for lack of good reason and without a fairly decent outcome. Again, things to learn from.

Jenna and Charlie talk with Boo Hagerty, VP of UPMC Health Plan

The event ended up being a huge success. We welcomed seven area professionals from numerous backgrounds and concentration, and provided the networking opportunity to 15 students. More than that is how this event is a stepping point for my organization. It is really important to not continuously be planning and to occasionally execute a plan. This is one of those cases and now a basis to improve.

A special thank you to Lauren Smith, PRSSA VP of Professional Relations, for owning this event and making it a reality.  

Thanks for reading,
Joe

Stacy listens to Mike Smiley, VP of PAPA Advertising

Leann talks with Laura Schaff, Assistant Mayor City of Erie

Define fun?

Hello everyone,

Happy October! It turns out that falls is here. The cool breeze has rapidly entered Erie, PA, but that's not for a lack of excitement on campus. Now I enjoy a night out, game of frisbee or a trip to an amusement park just as much as the next guy (or perhaps more), however these are not the only things that I define as fun.

Fun has an interesting new meaning to me. It is fun to determine who you want to be in college. Three years ago, I decided that I was going to dedicate myself to my major. Communication has been a gift and a half for me and it only keeps on giving. I had the opportunity to join the rowing team and continue what I had started in high school, but my decision has brought me irreplaceable practical knowledge and experience.

Last week as the Comm. Dept intern I began what we are calling the "COMMunity Bulletin." This is a weekly newsletter that informs the department of all of its happenings and presents students with future opportunities. To see the newsletter, click the link here. 

This week, as I have told you in the past, PRSSA is hosting our first large networking event entitled, "Speed Networking." Say tuned until next week when I tell you what happened, present pictures and tell you if we'll ever try this again.

Thanks for reading.
Joe